Arrangement for reducing the vapor mass about the anodes of mercury vapor direct current rectifiers



Nov. 3, 1931. .A. GAUDENZI 1,830,391

ARRANGEMENT FOR REDUCING THE VAPOR MASS ABOUT THE ANODES OF MERCURYVAPOR DIRECT CURRENT RECTIFIERS Filed Sept. 19. 1928 //7vem0r PatentedNov."3 "1931 D1J ':STAT S PAT NT OFFIC ARTHUR. eaunnnzrgornnnnmtswrrznnnann, ASSIGNOR' 'ro AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT- w 7 nnown-Bovnnr'a,crn.,-QFKBADEN, SWITZERLAND, .A aomrssrocx COMPANY or nSWITZERLAND I ,jsinnenenmnn r 'noniitnnuoine rrnnvanon Ass ABOUT HEenonns or MERCURY VAPOR DIRECT: CURBENTBECTIFIERS Application. filedSeptember 19, 192s,-seria1m.s0e,s67, and in Germany September 21, 1927.

This invention relates to meansfor preventing the accumulation oflargemasses of vapor about the anodes of'an electric current Vrectifier'ofthemercury arc type. A

, 5 *Large' vapor masses''-become dangerous to continued operation oisuch rectifiers, for the reason that'mercurymay condense on theanodesand fo'rma cathode spot which results in backfiring with itsattendant disturbance to connected-apparatus and damage to the rectifieritselfi The accumulationof mercury vaporis usuallydue' either todefective coolte'm, which permits formation of dangerously highfl vaporpressures; Various means have been unsuccessfully proposed for theelimination:ofthis'dischargei" 1 1 It is,therefore,: among the objectsofthe invention'to provide means for preventing Other 1 obj ects andadvantages will hereinafter appear in the description and the draw-'ings in which. for purposes of illustration only, an embodiment of theinvention is shown, and wherein the figures are schematicrepresentations of rectifier structures taken j on a central .planetherethrough, in which Fig, 1 shows the invention embodied ina glassenclosed rectifier; and

Fig. 2 shows the invention embodied in a rectifier of the usualmetallic. construction J suitable for large outputs. Referring moreparticularly to the draw- 1 ings by characters of reference: 5 indicatesthe anodes of a mercury vapor electric current rectifier formed ofglass. The anodes 5 are disposed in arms 6 extended outward from thesides of the main portion of the rectifier. The arms 6 may be formedhorizontally with upwardly extending ends,as shown, or may be disposedat an angle to'the main portion ing 'orjto complete failure of thecooling sys-.

the; accumulation of masses ofvapor about condensed" therein.

of the rectifier. It will be understood that the cross sectional area ofthe arms 6 need not be uniformthroughout their length, but

may be constricted at various points, or may be'decre'ased equally'alongthe length thereof. Radially extending arms 7, arranged below the arms6', contain theignition anodes 8. A mercury cathode 9 is provided atthelowest point of the main chamber.

-A plurality of radially,outwardly extend ing'arms lO are formed betweenthe arms 7 and the cathode 9. These arms form expansion and condensationchambers for the mercury vapor produced during the operation of thedevice. It will be understood that the arms 10 need not be arranged atright angles to-thesurfa'ce of the rectifiers, but may be arranged atany angle thereto. Instead of being'formed with the arms 10, therectifier may be formed with an outwardly extending, circularenlargement which will perform the same function as the arms 10; Anyexcess mercuryinot condensed by the usual condensing dome 11, will enterthe arms 10 and be t will be understood that the rectifier may be formedwith cooling fins or any other devices 'lorincreasing the coolingsurface and that a fan, or any other suitable means, may be used forincreasing the radiation ofhcat therefrom.

The invention as applied to rectifiers formed of metal includes theusual double wall container 15, formed with a cathode well 16, in thebottom thereof, for receiving themercuryforming the cathode. Thecontainer'15- is closed by a top 17, through which theusualanodeslSextend and which are supported'by the top in a well known manner. Thereference character 19 indicates the usual mercury vapor condensationdome located on the 1:013:17 and in communication with the interior ofthe condenser 15. The lower end of the dome l9extends into thecontainerlz'x and: is formed with an inwardly and upwardly turned flangewhichforms a trough in which the mercury condensed in the "dome gathersand from which it is discharged through the 'dependent'tubes'QO. Thedome may be of double wall construction provided with. cooling: coils,as. shown-,1 or of any other.

' construction suitable for providing contact between the mercuryvaporwithin the dome and the cooling means arranged therewith.

"A'fpartition member 21 is secured in depending relation to the top 17in either insulating or conducting relation therewith. The

member 21 is, generally, circular in shape and of such diameter that theanodes 18 are enclosed thereby and that an annular space is definedbetween the walls-of'the member 21 and theexterior walls of the chamber15. A '7 portion 22 of the bottom of the member 21 is downwardlyinclined in a conical manner and is bent near the apex of the portion 22the bottom portion 23 extends into close proximity with thelower end ofthe dome 19,

formin a artiall enclosed assa ewa a Y z;

whereby the greater portion of the mercury Vapor is conducted into thedome and is condensed therein. I

It willbe seen that the annular space formed by the circular wall of thepartition member 21 and the wall of the container 15 forms a separatecondensation chamber closed off from the anodes 18, wherein the excessmercury vapor formed during the operation of the rectifier is condensedandfiows back to the cathode well 16.

embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those'skilled inthe art that it is not so limited but that various modificationsandchanges may be made therein, without de parting from the spirit thereofor from the scope of the appended claims.

,VVhatIclaim is:

1. -An electric current rectifier of the mercury'arc type comprising anexternal casing, anodes within said casing, a mercury cathode Withinsaid casing, a mercury condensing chamber in the upper portion of saidcasing having walls extending thereinto, said walls being formed toprovide a mercury collecting trough at the lower portion thereof, apartition member dividing said casing into a pluralty ofchambers, one ofsaid chambers forming an auxiliary" condensing chamber for mercury vaportherein, and tubes for discharging mercury fromthe collecting trough ofsaid upper condensing chamber upon the bottom of said partitionme-mber.

2. An electric current rectifier of the mercury arc type comprising anexternal casing, anodes depending into said casing." from the Although Ihave illustrated only a' few top portion thereof, a cathode'within saidcasing, a chamber in communication with the upper portion of said casingfor condensing mercury vapor therein, and a partition member having awall enclosing said anodes and having a bottom wall provided with acentral opening for passage of vapor from said cathode intosaid-chamber,-the upper edge of said first-name-d-wall being in contactwith said casing, said partitionmernber forming anauxiliary vaporcondensing chamber with the outer Wall of'saidcasing', said bottom wallhaving a conical portion inclined downwardly from the outer wall of saidpartition member and having a"'centrally dispose-d conical portionextending upwardly, said bottom portions forming a collecting basin formercury. I V

' 3. An electric current rectifier of the mercury arc type comprising anexternal casing, anodes depending into said casing from the top portionthereof, a cathode within said casing, a chamber in communication withthe upper portion of said casing for condensing mercury vapor therein,and a partition member having a wall enclosing saidanodes and having abottom wall provided with a central opening for passage of vapor fromsaid catho e into said chamber, the upper edge of said first-named wallbeing in contact with said casing, said partition member formng anauxiliary vapor condensing'chamher with the outer wall of saidcasing,said bottom wall having a conical portion inclined downwardly 'frorntheouter wall of said partition member and having a cen trallyvdisposedconical portion extending upwardly. said'bottom portions forming acollecting basin for mercury, said bottOmwall having perforationsadjacent its lowest portion for the passage of mercury.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day ofAugust A.,D.1928. r ARTHUR GAUDENZI.

